Secret alarm-cabinet



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1,331,033. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

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SECRET ALARM CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25. I919- Patented Feb. 17,1920.

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SECRET ALARM CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I919.

1,331,033. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

MI la'rozz (litmus M. SIROLLA.

SECRET ALARM CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1919.

1,331,033. Patented Feb.17,1920.

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SECRET ALARM-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed February 25. 1919. Serial No. 279.202.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAT SIROLLA, a citizen of Jugo-Slavia, residing at Trinidad, in the county of Las Animas and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secret Alarm-Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention .is the provision of a cabinet or receptacle adapted to be secured closed by a plurality of secret retaining means, the same being readily 0perable by a person familiar with the structure of the invention but being extremely diflicult to ascertain the manner of release by any person unfamiliar therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a secret cabinet that possesses great strength and is adapted for holding valuable articles, and being formed of any desired material such as metal or wood, the opening of the device by a person familiar with its structure requiring the successive release of peculiarly arranged fastenings or connections.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cabinet having a secret manner of successively releasing a plurality of holdfast devices for opening the cabinet, an alarm being operatively associated with the structure adapted for release and operation by a person unfamiliar with the manner of opening the cabinet.

It is also designed in my cabinet to provide not only an audible alarm designed to be sounded by an unathorized person tampering with the cabinet and which would be unmolested by a person having knowledge of the cabinet structure, but it also includes means for firing a missile for injuringsuch unauthorized person when attempting to gain access to the interior of the cabinet. The complete invention therefore comprises a cabinet in which a lid is normally secured in closed position by a secret means releasable by a person familiar with the structure of the cabinet, without the employment of any key or other instrument; the subsequent removal of the lid and a container carried thereby for permitting the separation of a detachable plate from such container at the opposite end thereof from said lid; the subsequent release and retraction of closuremeans carried by the container whereby the hand of the operator may be inserted in the container for manually releasing the aforementioned lid from the end of the container; and the subsequent removal of said lid from the container by a peculiar manner of movement. A firearm such as a pistol is provided in said container having a trigger actuator rendered accessible upon the removal of the aforementioned plate, the actuator being undisturbed by an authorized person but operated by a person unfamiliar with the structure and believing the actuator to] be a releasing device for the securing means of the cabinet.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views and Figure 1 is an end elevation of the invention closed partly broken away illustrating one of the securing latches,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the manner of releasing the lid and with the lid and a portion of the container or receptacle illustrated by dotted lines as partially removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container removed with the end plate thereof removed and the rod for permitting movement of the slides partially withdrawn,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end plate of the container detached,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a corner portion of the container with the slides partially released and showing a step in removing the slides,

Fig. 6 is a similar View showing the slides removed and the hand-opening unobstructed,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the two slides with their retaining strip and one of the locking pins employed therewith,

Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the invention showing the position of the parts when the cabinetis secured closed,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken upon line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the interior bolt of the container retracted,

Fig. 11 is a transverse central sectional view of the invention taken upon line XIX.T of Fig. 1 showing the contents of the container and the pistol in place,

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through an end portion of the cabinet with the bolt retracted and the lid released for removal, the lid being indicated by dotted lines detached from the container,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the container partially broken away with the lid removed therefrom and illustrating the interior construction of the container, and

Fig. 14 is an inverted perspective view of the lid detached with one of the retaining latches broken away.

My invention comprises a cabinet adapted to be unlocked and opened by successive secret steps and comprises a rectangular outer casing 10 having a removable lid 11 with a container 12 depending from said lid adapted for closely fitting within the casing 10, the said container being removable from the casing when the lid 11 is detached and removed from said casing.

A swinging latch 13 is provided in a slot 14, at opposite sides upon the under surface of the lid 11, adapted for detachable connectionwith keeper pins 15 transversely positioned in sockets 16 provided at opposite points in the upper edge of the casing 10.

, When the casing 10 is normally positioned horizontal as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the latches 13 will normally swing into holding engagement with the pins 15, but upon tilting the casing as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the latches 13 will swing free of the pins 15 and permit the upward movement of the lid 11 with the container 12 carried thereby.

The bottom 17 of the container 12 is provided with a cutaway portion 18 having a hand-hold opening 19 adjacent one end thereof for permitting the entrance of the hand of the operator into the container 12. Opposite ledges 20 are provided upon the opposite sides 21 of the cutaway portion 18 at points thereof opposite the opening 19 and inner and outer cover slides 22 and 23 respectively are slidably positioned beneath the ledges 2O normally overlying and closing the opening 19. A rod 24 is positioned through perforations 25 in the sides of the container 12 and through the outer recessed portion 26 formed by an end ledge 27 connecting with the side ledges 20.

When the opening 19 is closed. the rod 24 is in its position transversely of the casing 12 with the slides 22 and 23 engaging said rod and overlying the opening 19 as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings. At such times, a strip 28 preferably engages the inner free edges of the said slides 22 and 23 while looking pins 29 are inserted in soclo ets 30 in the side portions 21 for retaining the strip 28 and said slides in their closed position.

The cutaway portion 18 is entirely hid from view when the container 12 is first removed from the casing 10 by means of a bottom plate 30 detachably maintained upon the bottom 17 of the container by means of pins or dowels 31 carried by the plate 30 and adapted for reception within sockets 32 in the outer face of the bottom 17. Fingerengaging notches 33 in the opposite ends of the plate 30 are provided for convenience 1n manually pulling the plate 30 015" of the container bottom 17 for exposing the cutaway portion 18 thereof. The pins 29 have the heads 34 thereof provided with finger-engaging notches 35, the said pins 29 being readily removed from the sockets 30 permitting the strip 28 to be readily removed. The rod 24 is then withdrawn so that the upper slide 23 may be forced inwardly beneath the ledge 27, exposing finger-engaging notches 36 upon the slide 22. The slide 22 is then entirely removed as well as the slide 23 and the opening 19 exposed.

A bolt 37 is slidably mounted within the container 12 upon one end 38 thereof for engaging an eye 39 upon the adjacent end of the lid 11 for preventing longitudinal sliding movement of the lid relatively of the container 12. A cover 41 in the form of a slide plate is positioned between the parallel cleats 42 upon said end 38, the bolt 37 being positioned between the cover 41 and end 38 and provided with an angularly-projecting arm 43 resting upon a peg 44 carried by the end 38, this position of the arm 43 and bolt 37 being adapted for maintaining the bolt in engagement with the eye 39. When the cover 41 is depressed as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the arm 43 cannot be turned so as to remove the arm from the peg 44 although such removal may be readily accomplished when the cover 41 is elevated as shown in Fig. 10.

Holding pins 45 are provided for the cover 41 removably positioned through the cleats 42 for engaging notches 46 in the adjacent edges of said cover 41.

WVhen the lid 11 is retained by the bolt 37 as illustrated in Fig. 9, the slides 22 and 23 are removed and the hand of the operator inserted through the opening 19 for removing the pins 45 and sliding the cover 41 for permitting access to the arm 43, while said arm is then released from the peg 44 and the bolt 37 retracted from the eye 39.

Depending braces 47 are carried by the lid 11 having terminal projections 48 adapted for reception through the slots 49 in opposite inwardly projecting flanges 50 at the upper edge of the container 12, the longitudinal shifting of the lid 11 thereafter bringing the projections 48 beneath the said flanges 50 for retaining the lid in position upon the container 12.

A guide flange 51 is also provided upon the opposite sides of the container beneath the slotted flanges 50 and it will be understood that when the lid 11 is positioned for placing the bolt 37 through the eye 39, the projections 48 will be in their locking positions beneath opposite flanges 50. When the bolt is in its retaining position, the cover 41 is returned closed and the pins 45 replaced to prevent the cover 41 from releasing the arm 43. The slides 22 and 23 as well as the strip 28, the rod 24 and the pins 29 are returned to their original positions. The plate 30 is readily positioned upon the bottom 27 and the container then slid inwardly of the casing 10 with the latches l3 automatically engaging the keeper pins 15 and retaining the cabinet in its closed position until again reopened by a person familiar with the mode of operation of the successive steps required to dis-assemble the cabinet.

A false bottom 52 is provided in the container 12 with a partition 53 spaced from the wall 38 while a cover 54 is secured parallel with the false bottom 52 for providing a receiving chamber 55 for articles such as valuables 56 to be protected and held by the cabinet. A hinged portion 57 is provided for the cover 54 readily accessible when the lid 11 of the cabinet is removed while a trap door 58 which is provided in the false bottom 52 permits access to the space 59 between said false bottom and the bottom 17 of the container.

An automatic pistol or other suitable firearm 60 is removably secured in the space 59 in any suitable manner as by a. casing 61 having a slide 62 at one side thereof so that the pistol may be removed upon opening the trap door 58. The barrel of the pistol 60 is normally maintained in alinement with a erfora-tion 63 through the bottom 17 but a thin plug or closure 64 is preferably provided in i the outer end of said perforation 63 so that the interior of the bottom 17 within the cutaway portion 18 will appear substantially uninterrupted.

An actuator 65 for the trigger 66 of the pistol 63 normally projects through the bottom 17 into the cutaway portion 18 thereof and when an unauthorized person gains access to said cutaway portion, the actuator 65 will appear to be the logical means presented for releasing the lock to gain access to the interior of the container 12. ized person will naturally press inwardly upon the slidable actuator 65 and then this will depress the trigger 66 firing the pistol 60 through the perforation 63 with the probability of shooting the person who is tampering with the cabinet.

At least, the firing of the pistol will act as an audible alarm giving notice that some person is endeavoring to open the cabinet.

The successive steps have been specifically described by means of which the cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings may be opened for permitting access to the valuables 56 stored therein, the operation of the The unauthorlocking of the cabinet being substantially the reversal of the releasing operation and this has also been herein described.

Finger-engaging sockets 67 are provided upon opposite sides of the lid 11 for convenience in removing the lid as well as the container 12 from the casing 10, it being understood that the interior appearance of the closed cabinet is unbroken with the exception of the said sockets 67 and the line of separation between the meeting edges of the lid 11 and the casing 10, while the lid 11 is also normally held removable by the retaining latches 13 and the bolt 37 all of which are releasable in the manner heretofore noted.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. A cabinet comprising a casing, a lid, automatic latch connections between said lid and casing adapted for release upon the tilting of the lid and casing in one direction, a container carried by said lid adapted for fitting within said casing when the lid is closed, the said lid being removable from the container when slidably positioned at a predetermined point on the container and means for preventing relative sliding movement between the lid and container inaccessibly positioned when the container is in the casing.

2. A cabinet comprising a casing, a lid, automatic latch connections between said lid and casing adapted for release upon the tilting of the lid and casing in one direction, a container carried by said lid adapted for fitting within said casing when the lid is closed, the said lid being removable from the container when slidably positioned at a predetermined point on the container, a retaining bolt for the lid within the container, a movement-preventing cover for the bolt slidably mounted in the container, removable retaining pins for said cover, the bottom of said container having a hand-receiving opening permitting access therethrough to said pins, cover and bolt whereby the latter may be retracted for releasing the lid and means carried by the container normally closing said opening.

3, A cabinet comprising a casing, a lid, automatic latch connections between said lid and casing adapted for release upon the tilting of the lid and casing in one direction, a container carried by said lid adapted for fit ting within said casing when the lid is closed, the said lid being removable from the container when slidably positioned at a predetermined point on the container, a retaining bolt for the lid within the container, a movement-preventing cover for the bolt slidably mounted in the container, removable retaining pins for said cover, the bottom of said container having a hand-receiving opening permitting access therethrough to said pins, cover and bolt whereby the latter may be retracted for releasing the lid, the bottom of the container having a cutaway portion surrounding said opening, a plurality of slides in said cutaway portion adapted for overlying the hand-hold opening, movement preventing means for said slides and a cover plate for the cutaway portion detachably carried by the bottom of the container and normally positioned thereon when the container is in its closed position within the casing.

A. A container, a slidably removable lid for the container, a locking bolt for the lid within the container, an operating arm upon said bolt, a shiftable cover retainingly positioned over said arm when the bolt is in its locking position, removable securing pins for the said cover, the container having a hand-hold opening in the bottom thereof adjacent said cover whereby manual access may be had to said pins, cover and arm during the operation of the device.

5. A container, a slidably removable lid for the container, a locking bolt for the lid within the container, an operating arm upon said bolt, a shiftable cover retainingly positioned over said arm when the bolt is in its locking position, removable securing pins for the said cover, the container having a hand-hold opening in the bottom thereof adjacent said cover whereby manual access may be had to said pins, cover and arm during the operation of the device, the bottom of the container having a cutaway portion surrounding said opening, superposed slides at one end of said cutaway portion adapted for overlying said opening, retaining means for said slides and a rod normally positioned transversely through the bottom of the container in contact with said slides when closed whereby upon the removal of said rod initial shifting movement of the slides is permitted during the operation of uncovering said hand-hold opening.

6. A container, a slidably removable lid for the container, a locking bolt for the lid within the container, an operating arm upon said bolt, a shiftable cover retainingly positioned over said arm when the bolt is in its locking position, removable securing pins for the said cover, the container having a hand-hold opening in the bottom thereof adjacent said cover whereby manual access may be had to said pins, cover and arm during the operation of the device, the bottom of the container having a cutaway portion surrounding said opening, superposed slides at one end of said cutaway portion adapted for overlying said opening, retaining means for said slides and a rod normally positioned transversely through the bottom of the container in contact with said slides when closed whereb upon the removal of said rod, initial shifting movement of the slides is permitted during the operation of the uncovering of said hand-hold opening, a plate removably carried by the bottom of said container, overlying said cutaway portion, a casing adapted for the reception of said container with the lid mounted upon the casing and gravity-controlled releasable connections between said lid and container.

7. A device of the class described cornprising a container, a lid slidably removablv mounted upon the container, locking means for the lid within the container, the said containerhaving a cutaway portion in the bottom thereof, with an opening adapted for permitting the manual engagement of said locking means, ledges at one end of the cutaway portion adjacent said opening, superposed slides within said ledges adapted for overlying said opening, a removable rod normally extending beneath one of said ledges limiting the extent of movement of said slides beneath said ledge and adapted for permitting the initial releasing movement of one of said slides beneath the lid when the rod is removed, the said slides being adapted for movement into said cutaway portion from beneath said ledges during the uncovering operation and retaining means for said slide.

8. A device of the class described comprising a container, a lid slidably removably mounted upon the container, locking means for the lid within the container, the said container having a cutaway portion in the bottom thereof, with an opening adapted for permitting the manual engagement of said locking means, ledges at one end of the cutaway portion adjacent said opening, superposed slides within said ledges adapted for overlying said opening, a removable rod normally extending beneath one of said ledges limiting the extent of movement of said slides beneath said ledge and adapted for permitting theinitial releasing movement of one of said slides beneath the lid when the rod is removed, the said slides be,- ing adapted for movement into said cutaway portion from beneath said ledges during the uncovering operation and retaining means for said slides, a plate detachably connected to the bottom of said container adapted for overlying said cutaway portion and slides when the container is closed and a casing adapted for the sliding reception of the container therein with the'lid of the container seated upon the top of the casing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MAT SIROLLA. 

